Cartridge-clip.



No. 866,080. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. W. S. STAPLEY.

CARTRIDGE CLIP.

APYLIOATION FILLED JUNE 8 1905 rrn s'ra'rns PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. STAPLEY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BRIDGEIORT BRASS COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

CARTRID GE-CLIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17', 1907.

Application filed June 8,1905. Serial No. 264,261.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. STAPLEY, of the city of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cartridge-Clips, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a clip embodying the invention shown containing a number of cartridgcs in place. Figs. 2 and 3, front and rear elevations, respectively, of the clip, Fig. 4, an enlarged central longitudinal vertical section of the same, Figs. 5 and 6, enlarged transverse sections on lines 5-5 and (S -6, respectively, and Figs. 7 and 8, side and front elevations of the spring of the clip, in detail.

In all figures, similar letters of reference represent like parts.

This invention relates to cartridge clips, or metallic devices for temporarily holding the requisite number of cartridges for filling the magazine of a gun packed together for transportation and in such manner as to be readily and accurately inserted into the magazine, by direct transference from the holder or clip without confusion. These clips or holders have usually been constructed of two parts, a trough-like frame or case open at both ends and having flanges projecting internally from its sides to engage the flanged heads of the cartridges, and a spring adapted to press the cartridges into such engagement. These clips have been made of different substances which have not proved entirely satisfactory. Steel has proved undesirable because of the tendency of the metal to corrode or rust in transportation, so that when it is desired to insert the cartridges into the gun the rusting of the clip has prevented the ease of movement. On the other hand, difficulty has been experienced in the manufacture of clips with copper or non-corrosive metal because the frame has lacked the necessary stiffness and has been liable to bend, so that the free ends of the cartridges become out of alinement laterally and the rapid insertion of the cartridge into the magazine thus prevented.

Lightncss in the metal and economy in the construction of the clips are, however, important desiderata, so as to add as little as possible to weight of the cartridges in transportation, and because the clips are each intended for use at once. Moreover, in many clips the springs are provided with tips adapted to be bent over the flanged heads of the end cartridges to hold them from slipping out of the open ends of the clips until the proper time, when these tips are bent outward or broken off. It is essential to this purpose to construct these tips of light metal, but at the same time the spring should be strong enough to hold the cartridges in place. I

The present invention, therefore, consists of certain improvements, whereby a frame of light metal, as copper, is stiffened to prevent any such bending as above suggested, and wherein the spring is made strong enough to hold the cartridges firmly in place while its tips are lightened so as not to detract from the ease with which the cartridges may be forced out of the clip when desired. To this end, a longitudinal central bead or rib, is provided which stiffens the middle portion of the frame, and its ends form abutments or shoulders to prevent the longitudinal movement of the spring after it is assembled within the frame. Moreover the spring is made stronger and stiffer but the tips of the spring are tapered or thinned, so that the cartridges may be easily and quickly removed, while at the same time a stiff, strong and efficient spring may be used to hold the cartridges firmly in the frame.

The invention consists of these and other improvements, as set forth and claimed hereinafter.

For the better understanding of the invention, referonce may be had to the drawings in which the parts designated by the letter A represents the frame of the clip, which is trough-like in cross section and B designates the sides which may be doubled on themselves, and provided with inwardly projecting engaging flanges C for engaging the heads of the cartridges X. The frame, as shown, is open at both ends, so that either end may be attached to the gun for the withdraw-a1 of the cartridges.

A flat spring D is inserted in the frame to press the cartridge heads into engagement with the flanges C of the frame. The spring D is provided at its ends with tips E, which as shown in Fig. 1, are adapted to be turned over to engage the end cartridges to prevent their accidental removal from the clip. As shown more particularly in Fig. l, the main or body portion of the spring D is made of a thick sheet of metal and the tips E are formed thinner than the body, so that the advantage of a stiff spring is obtained while the engaging tips are sufficiently thin or brittle so that when it is desired to insert the cartridges into the magazine of the gun, a slight pressure on the cartridges by the operator will break off the lower tip or bend it out to permit the removal of the cartridge from the clip.

In the body of the spring D are formed, at suitable points, depending tongues F projecting toward the rear and center of the spring. These tongues are adapted to engage abutments or shoulders in the frame, so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the spring within 105 the frame.

In order to stiffen the middle portion of the frame a longitudinal central bead or rib G, as more particularly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 is formed up from the rear to project into the interior of the frame. This head or rib 1 10 .G terminates at some distance from the ends of the frame, and its terminals form the abutments or shoulders H, against which the tongues F of the spring are adapted to come in contact to prevent the longitudinal movement of the spring.

Additional ribs or beads K may be formed at suitable places in the bottom of the frame and protuberances L, as more particularly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, may be formed on the sides B of the frame to act as guides when the clip is placed in position at the mouth of the magazine of a gun.

The parts are assembled, and the device operated as follows. The spring D is forced longitudinally into the open end of the frame A, and the first tongue F will slide over the first abutment H of the central bead G so that the spring D may be forced in until the second tongue F engages the first terminal or abutment H of the longitudinal rib, when the first tongue will have reached a position where its end may drop down and engage the terminal or abutment H at the other end of the bead G. In this position longitudinal motion of the spring is prevented.

The cartridges are inserted at one end of the clip, the grooves of the heads engaging the flanges O of the sides of the clip and being held firmly against the flanges O k seepso dinal bead G, and the stiffness of the spring prevent any wabbling or lateral play of the outer ends of the cartridges, so that all of the cartridges within the clip are held in alinement for their proper insertion in the magazine of the gun.

When it is desired to insert the cartridges into the gun, one end of the clip is placed at the entrance of the magazine, and pressure is exerted on the cartridge at the other end of the clip. Owing to the thinness of the tips E the spring pressure on the cartridges will bend outward or break off the tip adjacent to the gun so that the cartridges may be rapidly and accurately pushed out from the clip into the magazine.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A cartridge clip, consisting of a frame having a sub: stantially fiat body portion with side portions having inwardly projecting flanges, said body portion having a central longitudinal bead or rib terminating a distance from the ends of the frame; together with a separate removable spring plate having depending inwardly projecting' tongues adapted to engage the ends or terminals of the central bead or rib when the central portion of the plate is held between said bead or rib and said inwardly projecting flanges, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 6th day of June, 1905.

WILLIAM S. STAPLEY.

Witnesses WILLIAM R. PI'rTUN, SAMUEL I-I. FISHER. 

